Bag-handle hinge



F. C. BOTWRIGHT.

BAG HANDLE HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1920.

1,397,356. Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

m/ve/vron WITNESSES A FC. 50 TWEIGHT @Wzwmuw BY FREDERICK C, BOTWRIGI-IT, OF PHILADELPHIA, FENNSYLVANIA.

BAG-HAIIIDLE HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov, 15, 1921.

Application filed November 2 1-, 1920. Serial No. 426,157.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. Borwnrerrr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Bag- Handle Hinge, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to hinges, and has particular reference toan adjustable hinge for handles of bags and other similar containers.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable hinge whereby at the will of the person carrying the bag the point of support of the bag with respect to the handle is varied to shift the weight of the bag from one side to the other.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby a personcan, in a simple and eflicient manner, shift the load of the bag so that in carrying it the bag is automatically held away from his legs.

A further object resides in the provision of a simple, economical and efficient hinge connection which can be attached to any type of bag and which is adaptable, by a minimum number of manipulations, to shift the bag in one direction or another with respect to the handle portion.

A still further object resides in the provision of the particular construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

7 In carrying traveling bags, suitcases or the like, especially where they are heavily laden, the contact of the bag with the limbs of the person carrying it is exceedingly annoying. My invention aims to provide a simple connection between the handle and the bag which can be adjusted in one or another of a plurality of positions by a simple manipulation so that the point of support of the bag with respect to the handle is shifted in one direction or another, so that the bag automatically disposes itself farther away from the limbs of the person carrying it whether he is carrying it on one side or the other.

The invention is illustrated in the drawin s, of which igure 1 represents an end view of the bagwith the hinge connection in normal position;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the bag showing the hinge connection in one of the adjustable abnormal positions; and

Fig. 3 is a side view of thehandle portion showing the connection in normal position.

As illustrated inthe drawings, the invention may be applied to any suitable receptacle or container, such asa traveling bag 1, which is provided with the usual metallic frame 2 extending along the upper face thereof. At a plurality of points throughout thelength of this frame, a plurality of hinged elements 3 are provided. These elements have upwardly extending lug 20rtions 4 which are connected by links 5 with an adjustable hinge element 6 to which a handle 7 is connected by any suitable link 8.

The upper surface of. the fixed element Al is provided with a curved surface 9 adapted to lie normally disposed adjacent a similar curved lower surface 10 on the adjustable element 6; At the opposite ends of the curved surface 9 the upper end of the fixed element 4: is cut away to form shoulders such as 11; The curvature of the surface 10 on the adjustable element 6 is such as to provide the opposite lower ends of this element with extended portions 12. The handle of the link 5 is such as to dispose the curved surfaces 9 and 10 closely adjacent each other when the fixed and adjustable elements 4 and 6, respectively, are in normal position as shown in Fig. l. The link 5, however, permits movement of the adjustable element 6 around a pivot pin 13. Therefore, if the link 5 is moved around the pivot point 13 in the direction shown in F ig. 2 after the extended portion 12 of the adjustable element 6 has cleared the edge of the surface 9, the element 6 may be moved with respect to the link 5 to engage with the adjacent shoulder 11 on the fixed element 4. By then lifting up on the handle the weight of the bag 'assumes a new position, due to the fact that the line of support between the handle and the center ofgravity of the bag has been shifted to the left of the frame 2, as shown in Fig. 2 by the dot-and-dash lines. In acorresponding manner, if the link 5 and the adjustable element 6 had been moved to the right from the normal position a corresponding shift of the point of support would have been effective. The weight of the bag, when the handle and the bag are lifted, tends to maintain the gripping or clamping action between the extended portion 12 of the adjustable element 6 and the shoulder 11 with which it is in contact.

It is, therefore, apparent that I have provided' a simple and'efficient hinge portion which is readily adaptable, by a minimum number of manipulations, to effect the purpose of shifting the article supported from the handle away from the body or limbs of the person carrying it so that contact with the limbs is avoide It'is also apparent that minor modifications may be made in this device without departing from the spirit of the invention. 7

' This hinge may be used intermediate a handle or supporting device and with any container, whether it be a traveling bag, suitcase, or any other device to be supported and carried by a person.

What I claim is: r

1. A supporting device for bags havin a.

the bag, a movable member attached to the handle, connections between the fixed and movable members permitting the movement of the movable member around the fixed hinge member, and means on the movable member adapted to engage the fixed hinge member at a plurality of different points, whereby the line of support of the bag from the handle may be varied.

3. A support for a bag having a handle, which comprises a hinge member fixed on the bag, a movable member attached to the handle, a link connecting the fixed and movable members and adapted to permit of the revolution of the movable member around the fixed hinge member, and means on the movable member adapted to engage with the fixed member at a plurality of points onthe fixed hinge member, whereby the line of support from the handle through the bag may be varied.

4. A support for a bag having a handle,

which comprises a hinge member fixed on the bag, a movable member attached to the handle, said fixed hinge and movable members having a normal position, adjacent faces on the fixed hinge and movable members in normal position being spaced apart but similarly curved, shoulders on the lateral faces of the fixed hinge member, and means permitting the engagement of the movable member with the shoulders on the fixed hinge member, whereby the line of support through the bag from the handle may be varied.

5. A support for a bag having a handle, which comprises a hinge member fixed on the bag, a movable member attached to the handle, a link pivoted on the bag and con necting with the movable member, said movable and fixed hinge members having adjacent curved spaced edges, a plurality of shoulders on the fixed hinge member, said link permitting movement of the movaole member around the fixed hinge member in a given direction, and means on the movable member permitting the engagement thereof'with one or the other of the shoulders on the fixed hinge member, whereby the line of support through the bag from the handle may be varied.

6. A bag handle hinge comprises a hingermember attached to the bag, a handle portion, and adjustable connections connecting the handle with the hinge member whereby the bagmay be supported from the handle in a plurality of: different positions so that the line of support of the bag from the. handle may be varied.

7. In combination a handle, a bag to be supported therefrom, and means connecting the handle with the bag and permitting the adjustment of the bag rigidly ina plurality of positions with respect to the handle, whereby the bag may be supported from the handle in an offset position. i

8. In combination with a handle, and a bag to besupported therefrom, of adjustable means connecting the handle and the bag adapted to be adjusted rigidly in a plurality of positions, whereby the bag may be supported in an offset position on either side of the line of support from the handle.

' FREDERICK o. BOTWRIGHT.

construction, which 

